{"id":2481500,"date":"2025-09-02T13:56:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T17:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-illinois-over-laws-granting-in-state-college-benefits-to-illegal-immigrants\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T13:59:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T17:59:03","slug":"doj-sues-illinois-over-laws-granting-in-state-college-benefits-to-illegal-immigrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-illinois-over-laws-granting-in-state-college-benefits-to-illegal-immigrants\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ sues Illinois over laws granting in-state college benefits to illegal immigrants"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-sues-illinois-over-laws-granting-in-state-college-benefits-to-illegal-immigrants%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2481500&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker, and several public university systems, challenging state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrants. The DOJ argues that these laws violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S.Constitution and federal law (8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1623(a)), which prohibits states from offering postsecondary education benefits based on residency to undocumented individuals unless those benefits are equally available to all U.S. citizens regardless of their home state.<\/p>\n<p>Illinois laws at issue include the 2003 Acevedo Bill, the 2011 Illinois DREAM Act, the 2019 RISE Act, and a recent law expanding eligibility starting in 2026. Collectively, these laws allow undocumented immigrants meeting certain residency and education criteria to receive reduced tuition and financial aid, while out-of-state U.S. citizens must pay higher rates.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ seeks a permanent injunction to block these laws, arguing they unfairly prioritize undocumented immigrants over U.S. citizens from other states, perhaps encouraging more illegal immigration at taxpayer expense. The lawsuit involves multiple university boards such as Southern Illinois University and University of Illinois.<\/p>\n<p>This legal challenge is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Illinois regarding immigration enforcement and state resistance to federal policies. Similar lawsuits have prompted some Republican-led states like Oklahoma and Texas to reverse such tuition benefits, while litigation in states like Minnesota and Kentucky continues, with some defending their policies on constitutional grounds.<\/p>\n<p>Illinois has yet to formally respond in court, but may adopt defenses similar to Minnesota&#8217;s, which claims its benefits are not solely based on residence and points to state programs that also assist non-resident U.S. citizens. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-rules-mail-ballots-public-but-lets-pa-hide-vote-records\/\" title=\"Court Rules Mail Ballots Public But Lets PA Hide Vote Records\">case highlights ongoing tensions<\/a> over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-fleeting-scotus-victory-appeals-court-pauses-texas-border-security-law-again\/\" title=\"Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Texas Border Security Law Following Brief Supreme Court Triumph\">state versus federal authority<\/a> and the extent to which states may support undocumented immigrants in higher education. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ sues Illinois over laws granting in-state college benefits to illegal immigrants<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2203005\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Department<\/a>&nbsp;filed a lawsuit Tuesday against&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Illinois<\/a>, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), and several public university systems, challenging state laws that offer in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrants despite similar benefits not being equally available to U.S. citizens from other states.<\/p>\n<p>In the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-challenging-illinois-laws-providing-state-tuition-and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complaint<\/a>, filed in the Southern District of Illinois,&nbsp;DOJ officials argue that the laws violate the&nbsp;supremacy clause&nbsp;of the Constitution and federal law, specifically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/8\/1623\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8 U.S.C. &sect; 1623(a)<\/a>, which bars states from granting postsecondary education benefits based on residency to unlawfully present aliens unless those same benefits are offered to all U.S. citizens, regardless of residency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3786556\/how-trump-deportation-agenda-stalled-in-courts\/\">How Trump&#8217;s deportation agenda is being stalled in courts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3788930\/robert-mueller-parkinsons-disease-past-four-years\/\">Robert Mueller has had Parkinson&#8217;s disease for past four years: Report<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3788394\/texas-house-transgender-bathroom-bill-facility-use-biological-sex\/\">Texas House passes transgender bathroom bill mandating use based on biological sex<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,&rdquo; Attorney General&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pamela-bondi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pam Bondi<\/a> said. &ldquo;Illinois now joins the list of states where we are relentlessly fighting to vindicate federal law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ is seeking a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/media\/1412646\/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">permanent injunction<\/a> blocking enforcement of several laws, including the 2003 &ldquo;Acevedo Bill,&rdquo; the 2011 Illinois DREAM Act, the 2019 RISE Act, and an expansion law passed last year that further broadens tuition eligibility starting in 2026. Taken together, these measures have allowed illegal immigrants who meet certain education and residency criteria to receive discounted tuition and state financial aid &mdash; even while U.S. citizens from other states pay significantly more.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This policy treats illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states and incentivizes even more illegal immigration, all on the taxpayer&rsquo;s dime,&rdquo; U.S. Attorney&nbsp;Steven Weinhoeft said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In direct conflict with federal law, Illinois law permits an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States to qualify for reduced in-state tuition rates and for other benefits such as scholarships or grants based on residence within the state. &hellip; At the same time, it denies these benefits to U.S. citizens who do not qualify as Illinois residents,&rdquo; the lawsuit reads.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint includes the boards of trustees for several different colleges, such as Southern Illinois University, the University of Illinois, Chicago State University, and several others. The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>did not receive a response to requests for comment from these schools.<\/p>\n<p>The federal complaint deepens the Trump administration&rsquo;s broader legal battle with Illinois over immigration enforcement, education mandates, and the state&rsquo;s resistance to federal policies. Local officials, including Pritzker, have also clashed with the federal government over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/like-something-out-of-black-mirror-how-an-australian-town-became-a-smart-city-overnight\/\" title=\"\u2018Like Something Out Of Black Mirror\u2019: How An Australian Town Became A \u2018Smart-City\u2019 Overnight\">crime prevention efforts<\/a> in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chicago\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago<\/a>&nbsp;as President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3789461\/trump-crime-chicago-washington-dc-labor-day-weekend-shootings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increasingly touts a need to deploy the National Guard<\/a>&nbsp;to tackle rampant crime in the Windy City.<\/p>\n<p>While Republican-led states such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oklahoma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oklahoma<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas<\/a>&nbsp;have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3498341\/oklahoma-ends-tuition-assistance-illegal-immigrants-doj-complaint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quickly reversed<\/a> their policies after similar lawsuits, litigation remains ongoing in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kentucky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kentucky<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minnesota<\/a>, where Democratic attorneys general continue to defend in-state tuition access for illegal immigrant students.<\/p>\n<p>In a recent court filing, Minnesota officials argued that their benefits are not awarded &ldquo;on the basis of residence,&rdquo; the key restriction under federal law, but instead based on factors such as high school attendance and graduation within the state. They also noted that U.S. citizens can qualify for the same benefits without residing in Minnesota, under programs such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/ohe.mn.gov\/northstarpromise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North Star Promise<\/a>. Further, they warned that the DOJ&rsquo;s reading of the law would raise serious&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/constitution\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10th Amendment<\/a>&nbsp;concerns by <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >unconstitutionally commandeering state education policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3498341\/oklahoma-ends-tuition-assistance-illegal-immigrants-doj-complaint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3785703\/california-marijuana-market-cautionary-tale\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IN FOCUS: CALIFORNIA&rsquo;S MARIJUANA MARKET: FROM HIGH HOPES TO &lsquo;COMPLETE FAILURE&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Illinois has not yet responded in court, but its defense may closely resemble the arguments already mounted by Minnesota, setting up another significant showdown over how far states can go in supporting noncitizen students using taxpayer funds.<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner&nbsp;<\/em>contacted a representative for the Illinois attorney general&rsquo;s office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ sues Illinois over in-state college benefits for illegal immigrants<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2481501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25237757932702.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[62441,7076,6413,3813,4585],"class_list":["post-2481500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-college-benefits","tag-doj","tag-illinois","tag-immigration","tag-lawsuit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25237757932702.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481500"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2481504,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481500\/revisions\/2481504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2481501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}